Electric signaling.



^ F. W. LYLE.

ELECTRIC SIGNALING.

APPLIOTION FILED 1116.22, 191;y

Patented May 13, 1913.

FRED W'. LYLE. GE' "LYNN, JEIIASSACHU'SETTS, SSIGNOR TG GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION 01E' NEW YORK.

stoornis sionsmuc.

Specification of Lettersiatcnt.

Patented Moy 13, 1913.

Application :filed August 22, 1911. Serial No. 645,328.

een of the United States, residing at Lynn,

county of Essex, State of lvlsssachusetts, have invented -certeiir new and useful im proveniente in Eiectric Signaling, of which the following is a speciication.

My invention is useful in electric signaling and for other purposes, and comprises in particular en arrangement for operating selectively s given signal device, or a. given number of devices. of a group.

The element boron sind, 'to s lesser extent, theelement silicon, possess the charecteris tic of opposing e' high resistance to an electric current up to a certain voltage, this velue: depending on the purity, shape, size, etc., of the resistor. Whenrthe voltage ericeeds this value` the resistance breaks down, or falls suddenly lin value illowingr s cornparetively large current to pass. This prop erty is probably due to the heat generated at :i given' voltage exceeding the liest radiated, whereby .the accumulation of heat rapidly lowers the resistance. In accordance with my invention this property of electrical break-down resistaiiceis utilized in a systcm of signaling in such c manner that an electrical signaling current or impulse may be transmitted simultaneously to a number ofreceiving points each of which, or anyA selected group ot' which, selectivelir to `|respond to currents of a predetermined voltage only. 4ln other Words any one station ons line common to a number of selecilive stations may transmit a signal to any other given station Without effecting the other stations.

ln the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 illustrates invention es applied to the operation ol e iuinbcr of signaling stations connected across one pair of conductors, and Figs. Q and 3 illustrate a modification suitable t'or operating a large number of sta-- tions. .i

The signaling stations A, B and C, shown in Figui as connected ccrosslincs 1., 2, are

represented :is having; relays suitable for closing the contact in another electrical circuit 3,4 as indicated, but, ot' course, any

type of signaling device may be eiiiployedr.

the relay devices being illustrative only.

Each device is provided with dilerential ory o posing coils 6. ln series with a coil is a cron resistor or similar breakdown device i', connected to the line 2; in series with coil 6 is a resistor 8 also connected to the line 2. The coils, 5, 6 are connected in common by coiiductor'S tothe line 1. Various desired voltages may be impressed across lines l, V2 by tapping across sections ofgthe resiste-ness 10 connected to a storage btterv 11- or other convenient source in a manner similar to that employed in the potentioineter. The resistors 7, 8 of station A tively. The resistorsV of station B, 7', 8',-

rrnn foreros nageur orricii break down at slightly different values of bres-k down at higher voltages, for example; l

8 and 10 volts respectively, and in like mari ner the resistors o t station C brezil( down at 'seen that when a signaling current of sav ivfe volts is impressed across the lines'12, that the resistor 'l will break down Without breaking down the resistance of resistor 8, or on);V of the other resistors of stations B ondl C. The armature. of the' receiving device, therefore. will be attracted :it station A only. Should it lbe desired to operate a sig:-

nai at station B without affecting the other stations, a voltage of .sc-y niner volts is irnpressed across the lines 1, 2 which, of course,

will break down the resistancdfof both the devices 7 and 8 oi station A sending; av currentsthrough the opposing' windings 5 anclfi. As 'the magnetic effects in these windings neutralize each other. the receiver at station A will not be affected. At station-B the resistance device 7 will break down but. not. the resistance device 8. A current will therefore pass through Winding onlv. thereby operating the signal. Neither of the resistance devices at station C will be broken down as each of thembreak down at voltages greater than nine volts, ,therefore,'

the signal' at this station will net be operated. lt will thus be seen that ai signal can he operated at :my one station by irripressingr o predetermined voltage aci-oss the lines `1, 2

and thus passing current through fa. prede l teriniiied combination o resistossii v having Aopposing coi neither will break down. It will be seen how by the arrangement shown vin Figs. 2 and 3 a great number of stations may be handled on a comme line without too great refinements of break down resistance value.

I wish it to be understood that my reference to boron as a material suitable for a resistor having a sharp break-down characteristic is illustrative only. The resistor may, contain other elements and may thus be modified.

What 'I claim as newl and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In a selective electric signaling device, the combination Vof a plurality of resistors roperty o greatly lowering in pressed thereu on and 'means responsive to the passage o current through' a predeterby a signal may be indicated.

2. In a selective electric signaling device,

ymined combination of said resistors, wherethe combination of a plurality of resistors having predetermined diifering breakdown resistances and a ma etic indicating. device s in series respectively with-said resistances.

3. In a system of signaling, the combination of selective devices each of which comprises a plurality of boron resistances of unequal resistance breakdown characteristic, means for impressing upon said devices a u1-rent of desired voltage; and means responsive to a predetermined combination of breakdown condition of the resistors associated with each selective device. 4, -The combination of a plurality of signaling stat1on`s`having paired boron-containing resistors, lthe membersof each pair dif-A fering in resistance with respect to each other, means for delivering from any of said stations to the other stations a current of desired voltage, and means at each station re- .sponsi ve to the breakdown of the resistance of a predetermined combination of said resisters.

5. In a system of signaling1 the combination of paired boron resistors differing in break-down resistance, means responsive to the passage of current through a predetermined combination of said resistors only and means distant from said resistors for 4deliveringa current of desired voltage to said paired resistors. I

6. The combination of a plurality of circuits, means Vfor impressing currents of desired voltage across said circuits, a plurality of signal-receiving stations on said circuits .each having a; magnetic core, paired differential coi-ls connected across said circuits and vwound on opposite legs of said cores in a direction to generate opposing fluxes, resism series with each coil, theresistors of each pair differing in 4break-down value, a magnetic path of'high reluctance in'magnetlc shunt to the legs of the core on which said coils are woun and' means for detecting a change in the magnetic flux of said `highreluctance path.

7. The combination of a plurality of sets of signaling stations, a magnetic indicating device for each station containing coperating magnetic members,means for energizing simultaneously one of said members of each device in any set by a current of predetermined voltage, and means for energizing at will'a coacting magnetic member of any predetermined station of the same set by a cur rent 'of predetermined voltage and thereby transmitting the desired signal by the combined action of said members at said station.l y In Witness whereof,l I have hereunto set my hand this 19th.day ofAugust 1911.

FRED WL TAYLE.

Witnesses: FRANK (i. HA'r'rm,

ROBERT SHAND. 

